If you want to propose on Valentine’s Day this year, and you want to make it as memorable as possible, romance experts have searched and selected the world’s best places to propose in honour of the occasion.
“A wedding proposal is the height of romance, making Valentine’s Day a natural time to pop the question. Our advice is to skip the flowers and chocolates and take romance on the road for the moment that neither of you will ever forget,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.
Top five unusual places to propose:
London – but not the London Eye
A private capsule on the London Eye with truffles and champagne is one way to do it, but our alternative suggestion is Monument, the 17th-century flame-topped tower that stands in the heart of the City of London. Climb the 311 stone-cut steps to the top, as generations of Londoners have done before, and see London laid out in all its glory. The candle-like construction with its fiery orb suggests love’s eternal flame and a new beginning.
Paris – but not the Eiffel Tower
No, not the Eiffel Tower, or Arc de Triomphe, glorious and memorable as these locations are. Jardin du Luxembourg was much loved by writers such as Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Balzac, Hemingway and Sartre and our favourite spot for a proposal is a shady one by the Medici Fountain. Commissioned by a king’s widow in the 17th century, the focal point is the statue of Acis and Galatea, young lovers embracing, watched over by the powerful Polyphemus. Flights to Paris from £102 return.
Verona – it’s not Venice
“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,” is Juliet’s House. Verona’s romantic credentials are well established but if you’re thinking about proposing to your beloved here, forget about the Via Cappello and take a stroll through the Giardino Giusti instead. From the belvedere of the Renaissance garden are tower-strewn and timeless views of Verona. Flights to Verona from £102 return.
New Orleans – not New York
It’s easy to fall in love with the Big Easy, famed city of music, cuisine and a Phoenix-like character. Bourbon Street will call you with its siren song of bars and booze but proposing here wouldn’t have the necessary ‘Wow’ factor. Pop the question on a romantic old mahogany-lined streetcar instead, or under the ancient moss-clothed oak trees in Audobon Park. Flights to New Orleans from £436 return.
India – but not the Taj Mahal
There are few more enduring testaments to true love than the Taj Mahal. Built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, it’s one of the iconic monuments that needs little introduction. Ram Bagh, the oldest Mughal garden laid out in a way that suggests paradise, is a less clichéd location. The pathways and waterways are fed by the Yamuna River, while the shady pavilions offer an unparalleled setting for that all-important question. Flights to India from £358 return.
